Magnet gas tank cap



Sept. 6, 1955 M. w. HENDERSON MAGNET GAS TANK CAP Filed Jan. 25, 1953 7)Z W'Ziender .9022

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent MAGNET GAS TANK CAP Minnis W. Henderson, Bluefield, W. Va.

Application January 23, 1953, Serial No. 332,832

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-40) This invention relates to caps designed primarily for use in closing filling pipes of gasoline tanks of motor vehicles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a cap for gasoline tank filling pipes, which is provided with a magnet secured thereto and so constructed that the magnetic forces of the magnet will act to securely hold the cap against displacement, when the cap is placed on the metal of a car, upon removal of the cap from the filling pipe, to supply gasoline to the gas tank.

Another object of the invention is to so construct a cap of this type that portions of the magnet will extend beyond both upper and lower edges of the cap proper to insure contact with the metal supporting surface on which the cap is placed.

Another important object of the invention is to provide magnetic means for causing attraction between the cap and its metal supporting surface to insure against loss of the cap, in the event that the filling station attendant neglects to position the cap on the filling pipe of the gas tank after the desired quantity of gasoline has been placed therein.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a gasoline tank filling pipe closure, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cap.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicates the usual removable cap designed for closing the filling pipes of gasoline tanks, the cap having the usual annular marginal flange 6.

2,717,096 Patented Sept. 6, 1955 The cap also includes inwardly extended fingers 7 that have right-angled end portions 8 that are adapted to fit within the notches 9 formed in the annular outwardly extended flange 10, so that when the cap is positioned with the fingers over the notches 9 and rotated a quarter of a turn, the fingers will grip the flange 10 securing the cap in position.

The reference character 11 indicates a gasket which is held within the cap to rest against the flange 10 of the filling pipe 12 on which it is positioned, providing a fluidtight connection between the cap of the filling pipe.

Secured to the outer surface of the annular marginal flanges 6, is the mechanical magnet 13 which is of a width greater than the width of the flange 6, so that portions of the magnet 13 extend beyond the cap 5 at the upper surface thereof, while portions of the magnet also extend below the annular marginal flange 6, so that when the cap is removed in order to replenish the supply of gasoline in a gas tank equipped with a filling pipe, the magnet will contact the metal surface of the car on which the cap is usually placed.

The magnetic influence of the magnet 13 acts to hold the cap against displacement to avoid loss of the cap in the event that the filling station attendant neglects to replace the cap on the filling pipe to close the filling pipe.

In view of the fact that portions of the magnet 13 extend beyond the upper surface of the cap and the free edge of the flange 6, it will be obvious that it would be impossible to place the cap on a surface without the magnet contacting the surface to accomplish the purpose of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A cap for closing filling pipes of gasoline tanks comprising a circular body having a flat top surface, an annular flange extending at right angles to the margin of the body, a circular magnet secured to the outer surface of said flange with portions of said magnet extending beyond the flat top surface of the body and the free end of the flange for contact with the metal supporting surface, and means on said body for effecting attachment of the cap on a filling pipe of a gasoline tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain June 7, 

